Hand stamp for marking metal slabs or the like



Dec. 8, 1'953 L. H. FENs'rERMAKl-:R

' HND STAMP FOR'. MARKING METAL SLABS OR THE LIKE Filed oef. 31. 19s;

W FIGA.

Patented Dec. 8, 1&953 f- HAND STAMP FOR MARKING METAL SLABS R THE LIKE Lloyd H. Fenstermaker, Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application October 31, 1951, `Serial No. 254,163

Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved hand stamp for applying identifying markings on an object.

This invention is exemplified by a hand stamp especially designed to mark hot steel slabs immediately after rolling for subsequent identification. This exemplary device has the advantages that it can produce clear and legible markings on a hot slab more precisely toward perfection, more accurately and with less dependence upon the skill of the user, than has heretofore been usual.

It is conventional practice in the steel industry to mark identifying numbers on the ends of hot slabs as they emerge from the rolling mill prior to their being moved to storage areas. Prior to my invention this stamping was done by means of a rigid hand stamp which consistedof a striking head, a series of type dies, embossed with gures making up the identity marking, rigidly tted in the striking head and a handle attached to the head. As each slab moved off the rolling mill, a workman struck the slab end with the striking head in much the same manner as he would swing a Sledge. The rigid construction of the device required that the workman hit the slab squarely if a clear legible impression was to be made but due to the speed with which the slab traveled and the heat being thrown oif by it a square contact was not always made. Frequently there were light impressions at either the beginning or the end of the series of figures. This was caused by the angular position of the type dies when the stamp did not hit the end of the slab squarely or by irregularity of the slab surface itself. Since all the slabs were hot when stamped, the figures were invisible when the impression was made. This aggravated the situation since it could not be determined until after the slab had cooled as to whether or not the stamping made was yclearly legible. Many times this resulted in stock which could not be identified positively without time consuming chemical or spectroscopic analyses. It also caused errors in supplying slabs for rolling where the markings were not clear and as a result were misread. These errors were costly since each time wrong stock was supplied it was usually necessary to scrap the product of the erroneously rolled slab, stock another in its place, and reroll the correct stock.

It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to provide a hand stamp for marking objects with clear and legible impressions which does not require a square or pin-point impact when being used.

It is a further object of my invention to lprovide a hand Istamp in which type die-supporting pistons are cushioned by hydraulic fluid to provide flexibility in the movement of the dies upon' impact with an object to be marked.

These and other lobjects will become more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a frontelevation;

Figure 2 is a top plan View partly broken away to show detail; 'K

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line III-Ill of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a iront elevational view of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 2 indicates a substantially rectangular striking head member in which is provided, along one long side thereof, an elongated blind pole or constant volume barrel vl for containing oil or other hydraulic iluid. Barrel d is provided with a plurality of aligned holes 6 through one side thereof. A valve male end 8, connected with the open end-of the barrel 4, projects from one side of the head member and is part of a high pressure fluid valve YIi! which in turn is connected with a hollow tubular member l2. Member I2 serves as the handle of the hand stamp of my invention as well as a reservoir for storing the hydraulic uid. On its free end, handle l2 is provided `with a cap I4 which may have a ush type ball check -grease fitting l therein for an air vent. The head member 2 is provided with a plurality of bores I8 which eX- tend at right angles to the hydraulic fluid barrel i and communicate with the holes 6. The bores I8 extend to the face 230i the head member 2 which is remote from the barrel 4. A piston 22 is slidingly fitted in each of the bores I8 with one end 2li thereof slidingly tted into the hole S which communicates with the bore E5 eneasing the piston. The opposite end 26 of each piston projects outwardly of the head member.

An elongatedv 'retainer block 28 having a plurality of counterbored holes' 3! therein is affixed to the slotted face 2!) ofthe head member 2 by means of cap screws 32 and dowel pins 34. When in position, each of the counterbored holes 3G is in registry With one Vof the bores I8 so that a continuous opening is formed from the barrel 4 to the outside face of the retainer block 28.' The reduced diameter portion 36 of each of the counterbored holes 3s forms a shoulder 40'remote from the face 20 of the striking head 2.

Each of the pistons 22 is provided with a concentric enlargement or flange 38' therearound on the portion thereof that is' housed within counterbored hole as best seen in Figure 3. The flanges 38 cooperate with the shoulders 40 and the face 20 to limit the movement of the pistons and also to retain them within the head member. The portion of the piston which is housed within the bore I8 is provided with a concentric groove 42 in whichis seated aV sealing ring 44 made of rubber or other elastomer material. The sealing ring 44 provides an oil seal for the piston.

The projecting ends 26 of each of the-'pistons includes a portion 46 of reduced diameter which separates the head 48 of the piston from the main body thereof. The head V48 is provided4 with a radially disposed bore 55 in which is fitted a spring 52 and a ball 54. The ball 54 projects slightly from the periphery-of the head. 4&and is urged constantly in the outward direction by means of the spring 52.

Type dies 56 are cup shaped and are each provided with an embossed'gure 58 on the bottom thereof. The inner annular surface of the die is provided with a circumferential groove 60 which forms a race for the ball 54 to provide a ball lock for detachably afxing the die onto the head 48 of the'piston. A groove 62 is provided around the outside of the die to facilitate the manipulation and removal thereof from the piston head. With this arrangement the dies can easily be removed by the use of the fingers alone Without the necessity of tools.

In operation, the cap i4 is removed from the end of the elongated handle I2 and oil or other hydraulic fluid is poured therein with the valve l0 closed. 'I'he desired dies'making up the necessary identifying mark are then aixed to the heads 48 ofthe pistons 22 and the device is turned upon its end with the handle lf2 in vertical position. While in this position each piston is adjusted lengthwise so that the flange 38 of each is centered in its counterbored hole 30. When all the pistons are in this position the valve I'0 is opened and oil is allowed to flow from'the aoeisi handle l2 into the barrel 4 until it is filled. When ,j

the valve is opened to fill the barrelV 4 the grease fitting i6 may be depressed to allow any air in the system to escape. Whenthe barrel 4 is lled with the oil, the valve i6 is closed and the hand stamp is ready' for operation.

YThe type dies are substantially rectangular in shape and are provided with at least two opposed flat sides. When the dies are fitted on the pistons they are arranged Vwith their flat sides in sliding abutting relation so as to prevent rotative displacement of the pistons.

When. the hand stamp is used, it is grasped by the handle and swung against the end of a hot slab with a motion similar to that which is used when swinging an ax or a sledge. When the. device is properly set for use each piston is capable of moving Vin or out a predetermined distance. Thus, if one piston is pushed in .2` inch upon impact, one or more of the other pistons Will be pushed out by the hydraulicfluid displaced' by thefirst piston.. The. automatic self-adjustment of the pistons which is created by the hydraulic iiuidf cushion makes. it possible toy obtainy good readable impressions even when the impact is made at an angle and not square. This arrangement gives the workmana working-space leeway for -good performance where, heretofore, good impressions had to be pin-pointed because of the rigid construction of the.v hand stamp.

The detachable connections of. the. type dies withthe pistons maker itpossble to change the dies of the stamp much more speedily than was possible with former hand stamps. The type dies were rigidly secured in the old hand stamps by means of nuts and bolts which required some time for loosening, removal and resetting.

Although I have shown the stamp of my invention las havingsix type-bearingpistons-it is to be understood that this number-may be varied as desired and the size of the head modified accordingly.

While one embodiment of my invention has 'been Vshown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A devicev for stamping identity markings on an Vobject comprising a striking head member having an elongated handle axed thereto, a constant volume hydraulic-fluid barrel in said head member having a series of aligned openings through one side thereof, said head-member having a plurality of aligned bores therein positioned normal to said barrel and extending-therefrom to one face of said head member, each of said bores c=ommunicatingwith one of said openings, an elongated retainer block having a plurality of aligned counterbored holes therethrough affixed to the bored face of said head memberA with said counterbored holes in registry with the open endsof said bores, the reduced diameterends of said counterbored holes forming a shoulder remote from the bored face of said head member, a piston slidingly fitted in each of said bores with one end slidingly fitted in the opening communicating with the bore and its other end-passing throughl and projecting from Vone of -said counterbored openings in the retainer block, a marking die detachably aiXed to the projecting end of eachof said pistons, and meansfor limiting the movement of said pistons.

2. A device for stamping identity markings on an object comprising a striking head member having an elongated handle affixed thereto, a constant Volume hydraulic-fluid barrel in said head member having a series of aligned openings through one side thereof, said head member having a plurality of bores therein positioned normal to said barrel and extending therefrom'to one face of said head member, each of said bores communicating with one of said openings, an elongated retainer block having a plurality of aligned counterbored holes therethrough affixed to the bored face of vsaid head member with said counterbored holes in registrywith the open ends of. said bores, the reduced diameter ends of said counterbored holes forming a shoulder remote from the bored face of said head member, a piston slidingly fitted in each of said bores with one end slidingly fitted in the barrel opening communicating with the bore and its other end passing through and projecting from one` of said counterbored openings in the retainer block, each of said pistons being provided with a concentric enlargement around the portion thereof housed' within the retainer block which cooperates with the face of lsaid' head member and the shoulder of said counterbored opening to limit the movement of each piston and' retain the same in the head ,memben and a marking die detachably axed to the projecting end of each of said pistons.

3. A device for stamping identity markings on an object. as dened in claim,2` characterizedby each of said pistons being provided with a concentric groove therearound at a point Within said bore and spaced from said barrel, and an elastomer sealing ring seated in each of said concentric grooves.

4. A device for stamping identity markings on an object as defined in claim 3 characterized by said marking dies being substantially rectangular in shape and each being provided with at least two opposing at sides, said dies being arranged in aligned relation in the same plane with their flat sides abutting.

5. A device for stamping identity markings on an object as defined in claim 3 characterized by said handle being hollow and constituting a reservoir for storing hydraulic fluid, and a iiuid valve connecting said handle with said hydrauliciuid barrel.

LLOYD H. FENSTERMAKER.

6 References Cited in the le o1' this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Gmeiner Jan. 6, Howell Aug, 7, Ahlburg Oct. 23, Meyer Jan. 19, Pannier Jan. 20, Brandt Jan. 14, Winterkamp Apr. 1, Meyer Apr. 11, Pannier Feb. 10, 

